A STUDENT is making last minute preparations for a trip to track wolves in Russia.

Denise Caldwell, 19, of Barrington Drive, Middlewich, is an Animal Behaviour and Welfare student at the University of Chester and plans to help save wolves in a Russian nature reserve 170km north west of Moscow.

She and a course mate leave for the reserve in Tver Oblast on Monday, and thanks to the generosity of friends and families, they will take nearly £1,000.

She said: 'We performed a sponsored swim and a month

without alcohol - which enabled us to raise and save money for the trip - and we have already collected £700 with a further £150 still to come.'

The £850 will be spent on wolf tracking collars to help the reserve keep tabs on its wolf population. Denise said: 'The Rus-sian government offers rewards for catching and killing wolves because locals think they kill livestock. The money should buy about three or four collars.

'I thank everyone who has supported us. The money should help save the Russian wolf from extinction.' TRIP: Denise Caldwell.